Electrical connector means having operating means for connecting multiconductor cable means

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector comprises a housing member housing electrical terminals disposed in dielectric blocks. Latching arms are movably mounted in guide slots along opposing sides of the housing member. Cam means are provided in the slots and on the latching arms to cause latching sections of the latching arms to be moved into and out of latching engagement with a complementary housing member when eccentric operating means operate the latching arms so that the mating electrical terminals are connected and operate the latching arms. Polarizing means are provided on the housing members to assure proper engagement therebetween.

United States Patent Inventor William LudIow Schumacher Camp Hill, Pa.

Appl. No 807,198

Filed Mar. 14, I969 Patented Sept. 7, 197 I Assignee AMP Incorporated Harrisburg, Pa.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MEANS HAVING OPERATING MEANS FOR CONNECTING MULTICONDUCTOR CABLE MEANS 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Fig.

1.5. CI 339/45, 339/46, 339/91 Int. Cl. H0lrl3/S4. H0 1 r l 3/62 Field 0! Search 339/45, 46, 65, 75, 9]

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l 1/1955 Preston 339/111 X 2,987,693 61l96l Wamsley i. 3,345,604 l0/l967 Henschenetalum.

Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Terrell P Lewis At!0rneys-Curtis, Morris and Safi'ord, Marshall M Holcombe. William Hintze William J. Keating, Frederick Wv Raring, John R. Hopkins Adrian J. LaRue and Jay L Seitchik ABSTRACT: An electrical connector comprises a housing member housing electrical terminals disposed in dielectric blocks Latching arms are movably mounted in guide slots along opposing sides of the housing member. Cam means are provided in the slots and on the latching arms to cause latching sections of the latching arms to be moved into and out of latching engagement with a complementary housing member when eccentric operating means operate the latching arms so that the mating electrical terminals are connected and operate the latching arms. Polarizing means are provided on the housing members to assure proper engagement therebelween.

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WILLIAM LUDLOW SHUMACHER PATENTEU SEP 7 IBYI SHEET 2 (IF 4 mJ U FI w T I 0. m

INVENTOR. WILLIAM LUDLOW SCHUMACHER PATENTEUSEP m1: 3.603910 SHEET 3 0F 4 W1 r/ M} w INVENTOR. WILLIAM LUDLOW SCHUMACHER PATENTED SEP 7 l9?! SHEET t 0F 4 INVENTOR. WILLIAM LUDLOW SCHUMACHE R wing-0746* ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MEANS HAVING OPERATING MEANS FOR CONNECTING MULTICONDUCTOR CABLE MEANS This invention is directed to electrical connectors and more particularly to operating means for connecting complementary electrical connectors for multiconductor cables.

Electrical equipment, especially of the computer or communications type, uses input and output cables having large numbers of conductors. It is essential that the cables and conductors be connected to electrical connectors which should have a long life under hard usage, be simple, inexpensive, easy to connect and disconnect without the use of any tools and no tolerance problems. The parts of the connectors should mate with precision and be foolproof in operation.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector means that is simple to operate in connecting and disconnecting mateable electrical terminals.

Another object is the provision of an electrical connector means having camming means for moving latching means into and out of latching engagement during linear movement of the latching means.

A further object is to provide an electrical connector means provided with eccentric means to operate the linearly movable latching means.

An additional object is the provision of an electrical corinector means having polarizing means to assure the proper connecting orientation when the connector means is being latched to a like or other electrical connector means.

A still further object is to provide an electrical connector means which is connectable with a like electrical connector means.

Still an additional object is the provision of an electrical connector means wherein latching means thereof has one section slidably movable in a plane while another section is movable at right angles with respect to the plane when the latching means is moved in a reciprocatory manner.

A still another object is to provide an electrical connector means wherein latching sections of latching means are disposed in parallel planes.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions ofa particular use.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective and exploded view of an electrical connector means with a mateable electrical connector means exploded therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. with the electrical connector means in alignment for engagement;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the electrical connector means in engagement with the latching means out of engagement;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the electrical connector means in a latched condition;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a part cross-sectional view illustrating a detail of the operating means;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an electrical connector means connected to panel mounted electrical connector means; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of like electrical connector means connected together.

In the drawings, electrical connector EC is connectable with electrical connector ECM as illustrated in FIGS. I through 5 and 7. Electrical connector EC is connected to a multiconductor cable 1 whereas electrical connector ECM is mounted onto a panel 2 of a piece of electrical equipment such as, for example, computer, communications equipment or some other electrical equipment requiring a large number of electrical conductors.

Electrical connector EC is provided with a housing H which is molded from a suitable dielectric material such as, for example, polycarbonate or other suitable dielectric material or metal ifit is necessary. The front of housing H is provided with a hood 3 having angular diagonal sections 4 and 5 with diagonal sections 5 being offset closer to the longitudinal axis of housing H with respect to diagonal sections 4. The exterior surfaces of diagonal sections 5 are tapered from the front ends thereof to shoulders 6 and the inside surfaces of diagonal sections 4 are tapered to shoulders 7. Latching projections 8 are disposed on the inside surfaces of diagonal sections 5 and they are offset vertically with respect to one another in parallel planes which are parallel with respect to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of housing H. Mounting sections 9 are provided in housing H so that connector blocks 10 can be mounted thereon, the connector blocks I0 carrying electrical terminals electrically connected to respective conductors II of multiconductor cable 1.

Channels 12 are provided in the sides of housing H and latching members 13 are positioned within channels 12 and maintained therewith via depressions I4 in communication with channels I2 as illustrated in Figure 5 so that latching members 13 can move within channels 12 in a reciprocatory and linear manner. Latching members 13 are provided with latching arms 15 which are stiffly flexible and movable trans versely with respect to latching members 13 by struck-out projections l6 engaging camming members 17 located at the outer ends of channels 12. Openings [5a are provided in latching arms I5 and latching arms 15 are offset vertically like latching projections 8 so that each latching arm [5 is disposed opposite and in alignment with a respective latching projec tion 8 as illustrated best in FIG. I.

Openings 18 are provided in the sides of housing H for operating means OM for operating latching members 13. Operating means OM is provided with circular sections I9 rotatably disposed in openings I8. A U-shaped handle member 20 extends between circular sections 19 to operate the operating means. A round section 21 extends outwardly from each of circular sections 19 and round sections 21 define eccentrics having metal bearing means 22 disposed thereon and located in oblong openings 23 of latching members I3. Retaining rings 24 are positioned in grooves 25 to secure bearing means 22 in position on round sections 21 and within openings 23 so that operating means OM can linearly move latching members 13 along channels I2 in a reciprocatory manner via the eccentric attitudes of round sections 2I moving in oblong openings 23 when handle member 20 is reciprocably operated.

An end cap 26 is secured onto housing H to enclose same and a cable retaining member 27 provided with spaced projections (not shown) on the inside surface thereof is also secured to extension 28 of housing H to provide strain relief for the multiconductor cable I.

Electrical connector EC is mateable with electrical connector ECM such that diagonal sections 4 of hood 3 of electrical connector EC mate with diagonal sections 50 of hood 3a of electrical connector ECM while diagonal sections 5 of hood 3 of electrical connector EC mate with diagonal sections 40 of hood 3a of electrical connector ECM. Latching projections 8a are provided on the interior surfaces of diagonal sections 5a and they are in alignment with respective latching arms 15 so as to be engaged by openings 15a thereof to electrically connect and disconnect the mateable electrical terminals in connector blocks I0 and 10a.

ln operation to connect electrical connectors EC and ECM, handle 20 of electrical connector EC is moved to the position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 which moves latching members B in an outer direction along channels 12 whereupon projections 16 engage camming members 17 causing latching arms 15 to be moved inwardly toward one another. Hood 3 of electrical connector EC is mated with hood 3a of electrical connector ECM such that diagonal sections 4 mate with diagonal sections 50 and diagonal sections 5 mate with diagonal sections 40 and latching arms 15 are disposed in alignment with respective latching projections 80, as illustrated in FIG. 3, such that the electrical terminals in connector blocks and 10a are partly mated. Forward movement of handle 20 moves latching members 13 in a rearward manner causing openings a to engage latching projections 80 thereby moving electrical connector EC into latched position with electrical connector ECM with the leading ends of diagonal sections 4, 4a, 5, 5a engaging or near engaging respectively shoulders 6, 6a, 7, 70 when handle member has been moved to its forwardmost position, as illustrated in FIG. 8, thereby maintaining the electrical connectors EC and ECM in a securely latched position until handle member 20 is moved toward its rearwardmost unlatching position whereupon a reverse operation takes place. Shoulders 6, 6a, 7, 7a define stop means to limit engagement between the connectors and the electrical terminals.

Force applied to handle 20 is in the same direction and therefore aids the latching arm Hi to engage electrical connector EC to electrical connector ECM or a like electrical connector EC.

During the latching operation with latching members 13 being moved in a rearward direction while handle member 20 is being moved to a forward position, projections 16 move along camming members 17 causing latching arms 15 to move in an outer direction until latching projections 80 are seated within openings 150 which occurs when projections 16 are completely free of camming members 17, whereupon latching arms 15 move in the same plane with latching members 13 and they are guided by camming members 17 during their movement in the same plane with latching members 13 thereby drawing electrical connectors EC and ECM to their fully seated positions and at the same time moving the electrical terminals of connector blocks 10 and 10a into fully connected positions.

With respect to disconnecting the electrical connectors, rearward movement of handle member 20 causes latching members 13 to move forward and in so doing latching arms 15 assist in disconnecting the electrical terminals in connector blocks 10 and 10a until projections 16, while engaging camming members [7, move latching arms 15 inwardly and free of latching projections 8a, whereupon electrical connector EC can be readily removed from electrical connector ECM. The force direction to rearwardly move the handle member 20 aids in the force that the latching arm 15 exerts to disconnect connector EC from electrical connector ECM or like electrical connector EC.

Diagonal sections 4, 4a, 5 and 5a of hoods 3 and 3a define polarizing and guiding means to polarize and guide the mating engagement between the electrical connectors as well as protection for the connector blocks and electrical contacts therein and the latching projections are provided thereon to latchably secure the electrical connectors together.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, electrical connectors EC can be electrically mated together since the diagonal sections of the hoods are arranged in such a manner that mateable engage ment therebetween is obtained. Moreover, mateable engagement between electrical connectors EC is such that the latching members of each electrical connector are latchably engageable with respective latching projections so that a double latching arrangement is provided. Of course, each electrical connector EC of FIG. 9 is provided with the proper connector block so that mateable engagement therebetween can be accomplished. The mateable engagement between electrical connector EC and electrical connector ECM, as illustrated in FIG. 8, is to connect a multiconductor cable to a piece of equipment whereas the mateable engagement between electrical connector EC and a like electrical connector EC, as illustrated in FIG. 9, is to connect multiconductor cables together. The latching means serves to provide a dual function of connecting the terminals completely together during a latching operation and disconnecting the terminals during an unlatching operation. This is an important feature because it is difficult, if not impossible, to manually connect and disconnect a large number of gauged electrical terminals.

While the latching mechanism of the present invention has been described in conjunction with latching separable electrical connectors together, it is obvious that the latching mechanism can be used to latch other units together.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown and described herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

The invention is claimed in accordance with the following:

I. An electrical connector comprising: a housing member having a hood defining a polarizing and guiding means when said connector is matingly connected with a complementary or an identical electrical connector, electrical connector blocks having electrical terminals therein secured in position in said housing member adjacent said hood, said electrical terminals adapted to be connected with conductors of a multiconductor cable, latching members mounted along opposing sides of said housing member and adapted to move in a reciprocatory and linear manner during said mating connec' tion, latching arms provided by said latching members which are capable of movement transverse with respect to the linear movement of said latching members, camming means provided between said housing member and said latching members for camming and transversely moving said latching arms during the reciprocatory linear movement of said latching members, and operating means connected to said latching members for moving said latching members with respect to said camming means.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein, said housing member includes guide channel means in which said latching members are disposed.

3. An electrical connector latching mechanism according to claim I wherein, said hood includes first and second diagonal angular sections with the first diagonal angular sections being offset with respect to the second diagonal angular sections.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 3 wherein, one of said first and second diagonal angular sections is provided with latching means for engagement by latching-engaging means of said latching members when said housing member is mated with another identical housing member.

5. An electrical connector according to claim l wherein, the latching members are disposed in parallel planes parallel with respect to a plane containing a longitudinal axis of said housing member so as to be vertically offset with respect to each other.

6. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said latching members are movably mounted with respect to said housing member, and said operating means is movably mounted with respect to said housing for reciprocating said latching members with respect to said housing as well as with respect to said camming means.

7. An electrical connector according to claim 6 wherein, said operating means comprises circular members disposed in openings in said housing member and having handle means extending outwardly therefrom to rotate said circular members within their openings, eccentric members provided by said circular members, oblong openings in said latching members, said eccentric members disposed in said oblong openings, and means securing said eccentric members in said oblong openings.

8. A separable electrical connector comprising: a pair of interengageable units each including connector block means carrying terminal means, the terminal means of one connector block means being adapted for engagement with the respective terminal means of the other connector block means on coaxial movement of the interengageable units together, guide means provided by said units for guiding said units during engagement and disengagement therebetween to assure proper engagement between said terminal means, latching member means reciprocably mounting on one of said units, latchingarm means provided by said latching-member means, latching means provided by the other of said units and in alignment with said latching-arm means, operating means connected to said latching-member means for moving said latching-member means reciprocably along a linear path with respect to both of said interengageable units, and means engaging said latchingarm means during the reciprocal movement of said latchingmember means for moving said latching-arm means transversely with respect to said linear path and in engagement with said other unit for connecting said units together as said latching-member means moves in one direction and for transversely removing said latching-arm means from said engagement for disconnecting said units as said latching-member means moves in another direction.

9. A separable electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein said interengageable units are identical in configuration with said latching means of one of said units being engageable on the latching-arm means of the other of said units 10. A separable electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein said guide means comprises first and second diagonal angular sections with said first diagonal angular sections being offset with respect to said second diagonal angular sections. 

1. An electrical connector comprising: a housing member having a hood defining a polarizing and guiding means when said connector is matingly connected with a complementary or an identical electrical connector, electrical connector blocks having electrical terminals therein secured in position in said housing member adjacent said hood, said electrical terminals adapted to be connected with conductors of a multiconductor cable, latching members mounted along opposing sides of said housing member and adapted to move in a reciprocatory and linear manner during said mating connection, latching arms provided by said latching members which are capable of movement transverse with respect to the linear movement of said latching members, camming means provided between said housing member and said latching members for camming and transversely moving said latching arms during the reciprocatory linear movement of said latching members, and operating means connected to said latching members for moving said latching members with respect to said camming means.
 2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein, said housing member includes guide channel means in which said latching members are disposed.
 3. An electrical connector latching mechanism according To claim 1 wherein, said hood includes first and second diagonal angular sections with the first diagonal angular sections being offset with respect to the second diagonal angular sections.
 4. An electrical connector according to claim 3 wherein, one of said first and second diagonal angular sections is provided with latching means for engagement by latching-engaging means of said latching members when said housing member is mated with another identical housing member.
 5. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein, the latching members are disposed in parallel planes parallel with respect to a plane containing a longitudinal axis of said housing member so as to be vertically offset with respect to each other.
 6. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said latching members are movably mounted with respect to said housing member, and said operating means is movably mounted with respect to said housing for reciprocating said latching members with respect to said housing as well as with respect to said camming means.
 7. An electrical connector according to claim 6 wherein, said operating means comprises circular members disposed in openings in said housing member and having handle means extending outwardly therefrom to rotate said circular members within their openings, eccentric members provided by said circular members, oblong openings in said latching members, said eccentric members disposed in said oblong openings, and means securing said eccentric members in said oblong openings.
 8. A separable electrical connector comprising: a pair of interengageable units each including connector block means carrying terminal means, the terminal means of one connector block means being adapted for engagement with the respective terminal means of the other connector block means on coaxial movement of the interengageable units together, guide means provided by said units for guiding said units during engagement and disengagement therebetween to assure proper engagement between said terminal means, latching member means reciprocably mounting on one of said units, latching-arm means provided by said latching-member means, latching means provided by the other of said units and in alignment with said latching-arm means, operating means connected to said latching-member means for moving said latching-member means reciprocably along a linear path with respect to both of said interengageable units, and means engaging said latching-arm means during the reciprocal movement of said latching-member means for moving said latching-arm means transversely with respect to said linear path and in engagement with said other unit for connecting said units together as said latching-member means moves in one direction and for transversely removing said latching-arm means from said engagement for disconnecting said units as said latching-member means moves in another direction.
 9. A separable electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein said interengageable units are identical in configuration with said latching means of one of said units being engageable on the latching-arm means of the other of said units.
 10. A separable electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein said guide means comprises first and second diagonal angular sections with said first diagonal angular sections being offset with respect to said second diagonal angular sections. 